Anonymous donors fund new opportunities for innovation, mentorship, and startup acceleration at the nation’s top entrepreneurship university
UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business has received a transformative $10 million donation from anonymous donors to expand entrepreneurship programs that help students turn ideas into real startups. The endowment will strengthen Berkeley’s growing ecosystem of innovation by funding key programs that mentor, train, and support student founders.
According to the university, about 40% of the endowment’s annual earnings will go to UC LAUNCH, a startup accelerator for students, faculty, and alumni across UC campuses. The remaining 60% will be split equally between the Berkeley Entrepreneurship Hub (eHub) and the Student Entrepreneurship Program (StEP).
Haas Dean Jennifer Chatman said the gift ensures that innovation and entrepreneurship at Berkeley remain accessible to all students, regardless of background or experience. “This generous gift to Haas will provide vital and lasting support for our entrepreneurship programs, helping us double down on the human parts of entrepreneurship: creativity, collaboration, and community,” she said.
Fueling the Next Generation of Startup Founders
The donation directly supports three cornerstone programs that nurture early-stage ventures at Berkeley. UC LAUNCH helps new founders develop viable business models through a three-month accelerator that includes mentorship, training, and pitch sessions. StEP offers a ten-week program guiding students from idea to investment readiness, complete with themed sessions, cofounder matchmaking, and a final investor showcase.
Meanwhile, the Berkeley Entrepreneurship Hub (eHub) connects aspiring entrepreneurs with experienced mentors and faculty advisors. A portion of the new funding will go toward supporting eHub Navigators, who help students access the right resources, networks, and coaching as they grow their startups.
“This gift supports the student-facing eHub Navigator role and two previously unfunded but highly impactful programs,” said Rhonda Shrader, Executive Director of the Berkeley Haas Entrepreneurship Program. “UC LAUNCH has been providing free and equity-free acceleration for ten years, and Berkeley StEP for seven years.”
Empowering a Global Leader in Innovation
UC Berkeley consistently ranks among the world’s top universities for venture-backed startups, with PitchBook naming it the #1 producer of venture-backed founders and the top producer of female entrepreneurs for three consecutive years. The new endowment further cements Haas’s leadership in entrepreneurship education and its mission to create opportunities for every student to innovate and lead.
Shrader added that the funding will provide stability and reduce the program’s reliance on student fundraising. “We’re infinitely grateful to have a measure of financial stability so that we can focus more on working directly with students rather than external fundraising,” she said.
With this gift, Haas strengthens its position as a national leader in entrepreneurship education, ensuring that the next generation of innovators has the resources, mentorship, and confidence to bring groundbreaking ideas to life.
Conclusion
The $10 million endowment marks a new chapter for UC Berkeley’s entrepreneurial community. It’s a powerful reminder that when universities invest in students, startups, and innovation, they help shape the future of business and society. Follow, share, or comment to join the conversation on how education continues to fuel the world’s next big ideas.
